South-west divisional firearms officer Leading Senior Constable Malcolm Agnew said anyone with an unregistered firearm or firearm-related item could surrender it to a licensed gun dealer or police station anonymously and without any repercussions.

The amnesty, announced by the federal government on Thursday, aims to remove illegal weapons from the community where they could fall into the hands of criminals.

Last year, more than one firearm per day was handed into police on average during a month-long amnesty in the south-west.

Leading Senior Constable Agnew said 47 guns were handed into south-west police during the March amnesty campaign.

Of the firearms, 35 were handed in to Warrnambool police station, eight at Hamilton and four in Portland.

Month-long amnesties have frequented in the Warrnambool police service area over the years but the new nation-wide program announced on Thursday will be permanent.

"It's a great thing that the amnesty is now permanent," Leading Senior Constable Agnew said.

"It will give the community a sense of safety as it provides people with the opportunity to hand in any illegal firearms on their own terms.

"I think too often people might come across unregistered firearms or parts and think 'I don't want to want it in because I might get in trouble'. Well that ends now."

Leading Senior Constable Agnew said the less unregistered and illegal guns in the community, the better.

He said illegal firearms were difficult to trace and could fall into the hands of criminals to commit serious crimes while avoiding police detection.

"Reducing the number of illegal and unregistered firearms in the community will ultimately mean less serious crimes and a safer place to live for everyone," the officer said.

He urged the community to hand their unregistered guns into a licensed firearms dealer.

"And if they can't do that, they can ring their local police station to make an appointment," Leading Senior Constable Agnew said.

"We've got a licensed gun dealer in Warrnambool and two in Hamilton who will be happy to help if you get stuck."

People surrendering weapons to police or a dealer should call ahead and deliver the items in a bag or other covering, unloaded.

No compensation for surrendered weapons will be paid.

Under the amnesty, people can also surrender imitation firearms, including gel blasters which look like real guns but fire gel balls.

Imitation firearms have been a prominent issue in the south-west of late.

On Monday, a magistrate warned owners of imitation firearms that they could be seriously harmed if someone feels their life is being threatened.

Magistrate Jon Klestadt said imitation firearms were illegal and at 3am in a dark car, no one would stop to check if they were real.

"You could be shot at by police or by criminals if they think that what you have in your hand is a real firearm," he said.

Illegal firearm accessories, including silencers, ammunition and other parts, are also included under the amnesty.

Firearms and parts can be faulty and surrendered guns can also be licensed.

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